Alaskan Oil Spill Assessment and Control Begins

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, December 13, 2004 (ENS) - Assessment began Sunday of the damage done by the wreck of a Malaysian flagged freighter that grounded and broke in two Wednesday, spilling fuel oil off Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Island chain. Six crewmen were lost in the rescue effort. The vessel was carrying about 483,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel oil and 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

The vessel is located between Skan Bay and Spray Cape on the western shore of Unalaska. The area is accessible only by water or air, and there has been only one aerial survey since the incident, due to bad weather. The amount of oil in the water and its effect on wildlife remain unknown, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Approaching the wreck by helicopter Sunday, a salvage team was able to access the stern half of the ship, but not the bow, although the fierce winter weather abated somewhat after last week's high winds and seas.

While transiting the Bering Sea Tuesday night, the 738 foot Selendang Ayu, carrying a load of soybeans, lost power, and Wednesday ran hard aground about a quarter mile from Skan Bay in pounding surf.

Five of the ship's six accessible holds have been breached the salvors said after their inspection of the wreck. Three cargo holds containing soybeans, and the stern fuel tank all have small breaches. One hold appeared to be intact.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the wreck of the Selendang Ayu while salvage experts are aboard to assess the damage. (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)

Salvage experts on an overflight estimate that there are less than 2,100 gallons of oil visible from the air.

"We are very thankful that we finally have a good day to start getting things done," said Coast Guard Captain Ron Morris.

The Unified Command established to handle the Selendang Ayu incident is coordinating skimming and booming operations in the environmentally sensitive salmon lakes and streams affected by the oil spill.

A 100,000 gallon capacity barge, two mini-barges, and a fishing vessel are en route to the scene for oil containment.

One oil spill response vessel has completed booming operations in Naginak Cove and plans to begin skimming operations today. A heavy oil skimming system which was purchased before this incident for use in Dutch Harbor will be used.

Another vessel will try today to place booms in three creeks at the east of Skan Bay, if possible, or on beaches behind Makushin Bay if placement in Skan Bay is not possible.

Two wildlife observers and two bird experts are onboard the vessel, and they hope to go ashore to conduct a wildlife survey today.

Bald eagle on an Unalaska Island beach (Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Shoreline habitats in Skan Bay and Makushin Bay include salt-brackish water marshes, eelgrass beds, and tidal flats that are important feeding areas for shorebirds and waterfowl during the spring and summer. There are various seabird nesting colonies located on cliff faces and offshore rocks that are occupied during the summer by horned puffin, tufted puffin, common murre, glaucous-winged gull, black oystercatcher, double-crested cormorant, pelagic cormorant, and pigeon guillemot.

The lands in the spill area are managed as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Spill Response Coordinator is directing the Service response from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The 125 foot fishing vessel Exito, based in Dutch Harbor, will be used as a wildlife recovery and rehabilitation platform as necessary.

The Selendang Ayu is operated by IMC Shipping of Singapore and was built in Hudong, China in 1998. Nine crewmen were rescued from the ship by the U.S. Coast Guard, which crashed a helicopter during the rescue effort, but six crewmen are missing and presumed drowned. The search was ended Friday night.

Damage to the freighter has not been assessed to date because of the challenge of operating in such rough seas.

Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski offered any and all of the state's resources to the U.S. Coast Guard to help personnel respond to "this human and environmental tragedy." The governor sent his offer in a letter Thursday to Commander James Olson of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District based in Juneau.

The governor wrote, "This incident serves as a reminder to Americans of the great dangers Coast Guard personnel face without hesitation in times of war and in times of peace. Alaskans, of course, need no reminder as the courage of your crews are on display almost daily."